sports

NBA Playoffs heat up

This weekend, the National Basketball Association begins its ConferenceFinals. The NBA Playoffs started off with a whimper—as playerafter player fell with injuries—and things seemed almost to bedoomed. However, now that we're down to the final four, the NBA has got tobe excited with its prospects for matchups.

In the Western Conference, the Spurs, persistently rumored to be too old toget the job done—yet consistently making deep playoff runs—have mowedover every opponent they've faced. They blanked both the Utah Jazz as wellas the L.A. Clippers. Going 8-0, though, the Spurs would have youbelieve, means nothing. They are a focused group, led by the coach andplayer examples of Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan, both of whom have beenaround the block more than a few times. The Jazz and the Clips both hada couple opportunities where they could have stolen a game or two, but theywere ultimately pushed by the mettle of the veteran Spurs.

In stark contrast to that aged wisdom stand the Oklahoma City Thunder.Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, no one can make theclaim that this group is not experienced. They have made the playoffs forthe last three years, and have progressed farther for the last two. Thisyear, they are expected to challenge the Spurs for the Western Conferencetitle, regardless of how good San Antonio looks. The expectation inOklahoma City is to win an NBA Championship, or the season will beconsidered a loss. This speaks highly to the atmosphere in the newest NBAmarket, and shows how committed the coach and players—not to mentionownership—are to the overall goal. The Thunder are led by a three-headedmonster of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and super-sub—and SixthMan of the Year award-winner—James Harden. Their youth and speed will be tested by the Spurs in one of the most highly anticipated series, kicking off tonight at 6:30 p.m.

In the Eastern Conference, proceedings have been understandably marred byDerrick Rose's absence. If Chicago had been around, most people agree that things might have gone differently. But Rose is out for up to a yearwith an ACL injury, and the Miami Heat capitalized on that opportunity toroll to the Conference Finals for a second year in a row. After their lossin the NBA Finals last year, the Heat have congealed in the last few weeksof the Playoffs to look as good as any other team. Their being testedphysically by the Indiana Pacers was probably a great thing for team unityand proof to guys on the team not named LeBron James or Dwyane Wadethat they deserve to be in this spot. Like the young Thunder in the West,the Heat will not be satisfied with making these Conference Finals, though.Their goal, remember, is not one, not two championships, but a dynasty.

Standing in the way of that dynasty, fittingly enough, once again, are theBoston Celtics. Last year when LeBron and company finally beat the Celtics, the moment overwhelmed him. It was cathartic. The same pressure is not there for James or the rest of the Heat, but it definitely is on the Celtics. Dismissed allyear as too old, as having only this run left in them, the Celtics haverelied heavily on ace point guard Rajon Rondo, who notched atriple double in closing out the Philadelphia 76ers yesterday. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have wavered back and forth from their old, reliable selves to unsure players. The other rock in Boston has been Kevin Garnett who still appears hungry long after pundits predicted he'd be making an impact.

It'd be easy—and wrong—to summarize both of these series as the young,upstart teams versus the grizzled vets, trying to make one last stand. Butthere's no denying that there is a sea change afoot in the NBA. This year'sConference Finals may see some of those prognostications, that merely one ortwo years ago sounded absurd, spring to life.